QPP continues to engage and partner with state and national research institutions, government and other community based organisations to build an evidence base that demonstrates the impact of the services we provide for people with HIV.
In addition QPP seeks to focus on research that seeks to better understand the needs of our communities and further our knowledge to ensure the services we provide are relevant and responsive to the needs of the communities we serve.
Research Projects that QPP have collaborated on, or partnered with over the past year include:
“Study to test the usefulness of the PozQoL scale in assessing the quality of life of people living with HIV in Australia”
The PozQoL study is run by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University. The PozQoL scale has been developed in consultation with a variety of community groups and is conducted in partnership with National Association of People with HIV Australia and ViiV Healthcare Australia. During early 2019 QPP were involved in the implementation trial of the quality of life measure (PozQoL). Following the success of the implementation trial QPP has now embedded the Poz Qol into our evaluations of the Peer Navigation and Case Management programs with Life+. The evaluation data will assist QPP and our service users to identify if the services we provide impact quality of life.
‘RISE’
QPP is very excited that the RISE Study at the Kirby Institute, which seeks to develop and implement systems to optimise treatment, care and support among people diagnosed with HIV has been rolled out during this reporting period. QPP has been actively promoting and supporting recruitment to the RISE study for newly diagnosed people in 2019. It is hoped that the findings from RISE will assist with enhancements to service provision, for PLHIV into the future.
GeneXpert
In collaboration with UQ, QPP, Q Health, and UNSW, this research project extends the existing pooling methodology to evaluate the performance of a modified pooling method using the GeneXpert machine. Using the self-collected urogenital, pharyngeal and anorectal specimens of clients, this study compares testing a pooled sample with the individual samples for the molecular detection of chlamydia and gonorrhoea.
Open Doors Testing
In collaboration with QPP, QuAC, Open Doors and UQ, this project explored the sexual health experiences and needs of gender variant and sexually diverse young people living in regional and rural Queensland. This project investigated how they access sexual health education, information, and support services.
“T2TQ: Factors influencing the HIV testing to treatment trajectory within a Queensland context 2015”
In partnership with the University of Queensland, Monash University and the University of New South Wales, this study aims to better understand factors influencing uptake and adherence to HIV testing and treatment in diverse communities in Queensland. The findings of the study will inform planning for improving service delivery for HIV in Queensland. The interviews conducted this past year will elicit information on people newly diagnosed within the last 5 years and their experiences with HIV testing and diagnosis through to linkage to care and treatment initiation, with a particular focus on issues or concerns that affect adherence to treatment and retention to care over time.
“Co-constructing care for people with HIV: The role of Peer Navigation in improving linkage to care”
QPP partnered with the University of Queensland through an HIV Foundation Queensland grant to undertake an evaluation of our Peer Navigation program. The research involves surveying people living with HIV who are participating in Peer Navigation at commencement of the intervention and at eight week and six month intervals. Participants will also be offered the opportunity to participate in qualitative interviews. The research will help us understand the effectiveness of Peer Navigation in supporting people living with HIV in engagement in treatment and care and the impact on wellbeing. Qualitative interviews for this research project concluded in December 2018.
“Living Positive in Queensland: a qualitative longitudinal study of aging, place and social isolation (LPQ)”
University of Queensland and QPP partnered to research the lives of people that live rurally and regionally across Queensland. This study has followed the lives of 72 people living with HIV across Queensland through a series of qualitative interviews for the last four years and finished in late 2016. LPQ specifically aimed to understand the complexities of the relationship between the experiences of HIV, aging and other social determinants of health and examine the experiences of social isolation of people living with HIV in rural and regional settings in Queensland including the effects on issues such as stigma, sexual negotiation and prejudice. Some findings from the research have been published to date and a number of papers and final report have been progressed this past year with more publications due in 2019.
QPP Presents at:
Conference Presentations:
Supporting Primary Health by Improving Engagement for Unique Populations in HIV Treatment and Care – Chris Howard Australasian Society of HIV Medicine (ASHM) – Sydney October 2018
The role of Peer Navigators in improving patient outcomes, Satrio Nindyo Isitko and Positive Change for Positive People- addressing Internalised stigma, Nathan Butler Art of ART Brisbane May 2019
DIALOGUE Lived Experience Workforce Conference
Peer Navigation: Stories of Peer Workers in HIV Sector, Brisbane Satrio Isitiko Nindyo, Nathan Butler, Lara Kruizinga May 2019)
AGMC GLBTI Multicultural Conference
From LGBTIQ International Students to Asylum Seekers: The impact of Peer Navigation for People Living with HIV and Ineligible for Medicare in Queensland –Satrio Nindyo Istiko September 2018
Published Articles
Olivia Hollingdrake, Chi-Wai Lui, Allyson Mutch, Judith Dean, Chris Howard & Lisa Fitzgerald (2019) Factors affecting the decision to initiate antiretroviral therapy in the era of treatment-as-prevention: synthesis of evidence from qualitative research in high-income settings, AIDS Care, 31:4, 397-402, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1533235 https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2018.1533235
Stephanie K. Bell, Gabriela Mena, Judith Dean, Peter Watts, Chris Howard, Mark Boyd, Charles Gilks & Coral Gartner (2019) Addressing smoking among people living with HIV: a cross-sectional survey of Australian HIV health practitioners’ practices and attitudes, AIDS Care, 31:4, 436-442, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1500007
Judith Dean, ChiWai Lui, Allyson Mutch, Michael Scott, Chris Howard, Jime Lemoire, Anna Crothers, Lisa Fitzgerald & Owain D. Williams (2019) Knowledge and awareness of HIV self-testing among Australian gay and bisexual men: a comparison of never, sub-optimal and optimal testers willingness to use, AIDS Care,31:2, 224-229, DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1524120
Mullens, A. B., Duyker, J., Brownlow, C., Lemoire, J., Daken, K., & Gow, J. (2019). Point-of-care testing (POCT) for HIV/STI targeting MSM in regional Australia at community ‘beat’ locations. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1). doi:10.1186/s12913-019-3899-2
Mullens, A. B., Daken, K., Lemoire, J., Brownlow, C., Driver, G., & Gow, J. (2019). HIV Point of Care Testing (PoCT) at Late-Night Sex on Premises Venues (SOPV) for Gay and Bisexual Men and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men (GBMSM): A Mixed Methods Analysis. AIDS and Behavior. doi:10.1007/s10461-019-02500-0
Bell, S. F., Dean, J. A., Lemoire, J., Debattista, J., Driver, G., Gilks, C. F., . . . Williams, O. D. (2018). Integrated HIV self-testing (HIVST) service delivery in Queensland for policy and service development: Study protocol. AIDS Care, 31(2), 207-215. doi:10.1080/09540121.2018.1516859
Badman, SG, Bell, SFE, Dean, JA, Lemoie, J, Coffey, L, Debattista, J., Redmond, AM, Williams, OD, Gilks, CF and Whiley, DM. Evaluation of a Specimen Pooling Method to Detect Urogenital, Pharyngeal and Anorectal for Molecular Point-of-Care Detection of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea at Urban Point Of Care. Sexual Health – Accepted pending revisions May 2019
Submitted and Accepted Abstracts:
Evaluation of a Specimen Pooling Method for Molecular Point-Of-Care Detection of Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea. Coffey Luke, (2019) LINK Program: Taking the Lead: Peer Delivery of Point of Care testing for STIs within a Community Setting. Metro North LINK and SEED Showcase 7th March 2018
Badman SG, Bell SFE, Dean JA, Lemoire J, Debattista J4 Redmond AM 5, Williams OD, Gilks CF, Whiley DM. Evaluation of a specimen pooling method for molecular point-of-care detection of chlamydia and gonorrhoea. IUSTI Asia Pacific Sexual Health Congress 2018 to be held from Thursday 1 November to Saturday 3 November 2018 at the Pullman Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand. (oral presentation)
2018 Dean J, Bell SFE, Lemoire J, Debattista J, Redmond AM, Gilks C, Williams OD. Experiences Of Using An Online HIV Self-Testing (HIVST) Dissemination Service In Queensland. (Oral Presentation) 2018 Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference Sydney
2018 Fitzgerald L, Mutch A, Lui CW, Dean J, Howard C, Vallely A, Whittaker A. “The pill just makes you invisible”: living positive in Queensland in time of biomedical prevention. (Oral Presentation) 2018 Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference Sydney
2018 Hollingdrake O, Lui Chi-Wai, Dean J, Mutch A, Howard C, L. Fitzgerald. Emerging support networks following HIV diagnosis (Oral Presentation) 2018 Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference Sydney
2018 Dean J, Lui CW, Scott M, Lemoire J, Howard C, Mutch A, Gilks C, Williams O, and Fitzgerald L. Willingness To Use Prep Among Gay And Bisexual Men In Queensland, Australia: Differences Associated With HIV Risk, Patterns Of Testing And Location Of Residence (Poster). 2018 Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference Sydney
2018 Bell SFE, Dean J, Lemoire J, Debattista J, Redmond AM, Gilks C, Williams O. Online HIV self-testing (HIVST) service in Queensland: users, usage and usability (Poster). 2018 Australasian HIV/AIDS Conference Sydney
